Although celebrities are often seen as picture perfect, it takes guts to step into the spotlight. They hold a lot of power as they can shift social media trends, carry out activism, and break barriers in the entertainment industry. Still, when millions of people look up to celebrities, they constantly find themselves scrutinized, making it difficult to define their relationships with their fans. Celebrities can’t have a perfect relationship with every single person who knows them, and they don’t owe us displays into their private lives.
Public figures often fall prey to celebrity obsession, turning ordinary people into fanatics. Princess Diana, beloved for her charismatic character, was constantly followed around by paparazzi, her entire life and marriage on public display. Even today, this level of intense (and possibly dangerous) obsession exists.
Chappell Roan recently expressed her concerns when fans invaded her privacy. Roan, an American song-writer, rose to fame with her hit singles Good Luck Babe! and HOT TO GO!. Her rise to fame was fairly quick, and she wasn’t used to the level of paparazzi surrounding her. She called out her fans’ creepy behavior by stating how she is not in the mood to take photos with everyone. Although she initially received backlash for her comments online, she deserves the right to set some boundaries. People who listen to her music hardly know her in real life, and are not entitled to her time.
Other celebrities also struggle with attention from over invasive fans. Pop star Justin Bieber’s camera shyness is a method of preserving his sanity, but many fans have expressed their disappointment after Bieber dismissed their photo requests. Still, celebrities are human too: how many times can he go out and about without being stopped by clingy fans or paparazzi?
Celebrities make a lot more sacrifices than we know. Tom Holland, notable for playing Spiderman, expressed his exhaustion and sickness when he went on his global press tour for “Spiderman: Homecoming”. His rise to fame was not a bed of roses, as many of the tours he took were demanding and detrimental to his health; he was seen physically ill and throwing up after a press conference.
Some people believe that celebrities should be open to taking pictures with them, always ready with a smile and a quip to brighten a fan’s day. If they are rising artists, they should be prepared to be in the public spotlight, and understand the responsibilities and sacrifices they might have to make. However, while they should be polite and respect the people that helped them get where they are, it is important to remember that they don’t just exist for our entertainment. They have personal lives, and it is courteous to respect their privacy. Celebrities are humans too and they should be able to experience the ups and downs in their lives, without interference from the public.
